Review: Logitech Wireless Touchpad T650

Almost three years ago, I tried returning to Windows as my primary desktop platform in a series of columns and blog posts I called Operation Switchback.

I wound up sticking with the Mac, mainly because I didn’t have to give anything up. Through virtualization, I can have both Windows and Mac systems at my disposal, but the reverse is not true if you’ve got a Windows PC (unless, of course, you’re willing to build a Hackintosh).

Microsoft late last year launched Windows 8, which includes a radical reworking of the interface. As I’ve said, I have a love-hate relationship with Windows 8, but over time I’ve become more intrigued by it. I particularly like it on Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablet.

I’m considering repeating the experiment I did in 2010, setting aside my iMac and living with Windows 8 for a couple of months. But one thing that has stopped me is that Windows 8 is at its best on touch-based hardware. I’m not interested in shelling out for a pricey touchscreen monitor, and I don’t really like using touchscreen desktops because of the “gorilla arms” effect. If I try this, I will be working with a pair of older Dell monitors, but I really don’t want to use Windows 8 with a traditional mouse.

What I really need is something like theMagic Trackpad I use with my iMac, which allows for a wide variety of touch gestures. Unfortunately, most Windows touchpads I’ve tried are crude by comparison – they’re usually sluggish and don’t support as many gestures. I’ve not been impressed with them at all.

That is, until now.

I’ve been trying outLogitech’s Wireless Touchpad T650, which is the closest device I’ve found to the Magic Trackpad. It’s 5.9-by-5.7 inches, with a glass layer over a charcoal gray surface. Like Apple’s product, it has a physical click feature – just press down on either the left or right sides – or you can use simple tapping for clicks.

The T650 communicates wirelessly with the PC via a tiny USB transceiver using the 2.4-GHz frequency. It’s not Bluetooth, which is a downside for those who own Bluetooth-ready PCs, but there’s no lag and the connection is solid.

This touchpad is designed for use with Windows 8, and supports the OS’s plethora of gestures. You can swipe from the right to bring up the Windows 8 column of charms, or swipe from the left to bring running programs to the fore. A two-finger gesture scrolls up and down or left and right. Flicking from the top brings up the menu and app bars in Windows 8’s “Modern” interface.

You can customize these using Logitech’s SetPoint software, which downloads automatically when you connect the T650 into your Windows 8 PC. You can run without this software, but you will lose some key features. If the software isn’t running, for example, you have to physically push down on the T650 to click it.

And that physical click is one of the few faults I have with this touchpad. It requires a lot of force to physically click the T650. Fortunately, you can set up the software so you never have to do this. All traditional, mouse-style actions – tapping, right-clicking, double-tap-and-hold to drag, etc. – can all be handled without ever having to physically click the pad.

The T650 is wireless, but requires a USB cable to charge the batteries. Logitech says the battery should last a month on a charge. I haven’t had it long enough to test that claim.

So far, I have not had to reach for my mouse since I started using the T650, and that’s a good sign. But there are still a few things I haven’t tried, such as playing games. Well, I have gone through a few rounds of Solitaire – the T650 is great for that!

I like Logitech’s Wireless Touchpad T650 enough that it may be the tipping point. I’m going to work with it a little longer, but I do believe I feel another Operation Switchback coming on.

The T650 has a list price of $80, but you can find it for much less from online retailers.